The Gift of Music

I just finished reading "The Gift of Music" by Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson. It was a book that featured some of the great composers of history, and their influence upon life, culture, and especially music.

It was a great book. It gave brief introductions into the lives of nearly fifty composers, from Schütz to Shostakovich.

The neat thing about each of these composers was their outlook on life, and how that affected their music. Bach, for instance, believed that everything he could do with music was a gift from God, and he made a point of glorifying God every time he composed.

"I feel strongly that all the arts, and particularly music,

should be placed in the service of Him

who has created and given them." ~ Martin Luther

Other composers also had faith in God, and devoted their music to His glory. They used it as another means to praise Him.

Psalm 101:1

"I will sing of steadfast love and justice;

to you, O Lord, I will make music."

Yet others, though, were atheist, nihilist...there was a full range of beliefs among the great composers.

It was interesting to see what their outlook was on life, and how that influenced their music. Some resorted to near-chaos within their songs, trying to make sense of senselessness, while others preferred the order and beauty that they felt reflected the order that God had created.

Some of them died in despair, others with peace.

Many of them died poor, but left a lasting impression on the world through the music they left behind.

I enjoyed this book, since I enjoy music.

As the authors put it,

"We are not speaking of something unimportant, although some may feel that art, music, and literature are the extras in life. Alfred Einstein in his book Greatness in Music made this startling statement: 'Artistic greatness is both more permanent and universal than historical greatness.'"

Now that I'm done reading it, I think that I will start back at page one. :)